It isn't liquid mercury. It's a steel ball bearing. The layers of ejecta and the size and shape of the crater are the main point of the demonstration.
If it was liquid mercury, it would not be dangerous. Despite popular belief, liquid mercury is not dangerous unless handled for long amounts of time or ingested. The real danger is mercury vapors which are extremely toxic.
I got here by clicking a link on Astronomy Picture of the Day, and find myself to be the 34th viewer. Number will probably go up a lot as the day goes on.
It doesn't look like Mercury, but it's a great link anyway.
APOD has some great links, I always find them to be educational.
This looks like a drop of mercury, but I think it demonstrates the different layers of the ejecta pretty well. Neat.
How dangerous is that liquid mercury?
CodemasterJD 3 years ago
It isn't liquid mercury. It's a steel ball bearing. The layers of ejecta and the size and shape of the crater are the main point of the demonstration.
Thanks for viewing.
dunlavyca 3 years ago
Ah, thanks. It looked like it 'quivered' at the end. Video compression I guess. Understood about the point, good way to do it.
== John ==
CodemasterJD 3 years ago
If it was liquid mercury, it would not be dangerous. Despite popular belief, liquid mercury is not dangerous unless handled for long amounts of time or ingested. The real danger is mercury vapors which are extremely toxic.
Deadpoolrules24 3 years ago
I got here by clicking a link on Astronomy Picture of the Day, and find myself to be the 34th viewer. Number will probably go up a lot as the day goes on.
PerfectDuck 3 years ago